Privacy and Security are a top priority at Poplar Grove State Bank.
In addition to our Privacy Policy we also take additional measures
to safeguard your information as well as make some suggestions.

E-Mail

NEVER use E-mail to send confidential information about you or your accounts. Information such as your Account Number, PIN number, Social Security number, ATM or Debit Card number, Passwords, etc. should NEVER be sent via E-Mail to us. E-Mail is intended for general information only and is not secure.

There are various scams circulating over the Internet where it appears that the FDIC, VISA, MASTERCARD, NYCE ATM NETWORK, STAR ATM NETWORK or YOUR BANK are asking for Personal Information or asking for details about your accounts. NEVER respond to requests asking for PERSONAL information! No reputable business will ask for this type of information via E-mail. We suggest calling or sending this type of information direct.

Saving your password to your desktop may seem like a timesaver but it allows others to access your personal information without your permission.

How personal is your password?

Avoid using passwords that are relevant to your personal situation. Passwords with your phone number, date of birth, or social security number are often gateways to disaster. Create passwords that contain letters and numbers that cannot be easily attributable to you. Change your password every 60 days or as often as you feel comfortable. Remember: The longer the password the harder it is to break it. Use plenty of upper and lower case letters and numbers too.

Don't open email from unknown sources.

”Phishing” emails are those sent to your email address by cyber criminals who wish to steal your personal information. Be wary of any email that asks for PIN numbers, passwords or your credit card information. These letters are often emblazoned with the real registered logos of legitimate companies that you may already do business with. Links within these “Phishing” letters may take you to fraudulent “Spoof” websites which are designed to fool consumers into trusting the integrity of the website. Most Phishing emails do not even address you by your proper name because they are “blanket” emails sent out en masse to thousands of potential targets.

Read between the lines!

Emails do not have boundaries. You may be the recipient of a fraudulent email from any country in the world. Pay close attention to the finer details of any email that you receive. Are there typographical errors or unusual grammatical mistakes within the letter? Is there a hyperlink in the email that directs you to a website address that also bears noticeable errors in language and grammar? Use extreme caution. Do not input your personal information until you verify the website with your financial institution.

Report any suspicious emails and website addresses immediately.

Most E Commerce websites maintain security departments that deal with Spam, Phishing scam letters and other security breaches. Forward any unusual emails and website addresses to the security departments immediately so that they advise you on how to proceed.

“We need you to update your password because of a security compromise”

Why would a company that already has your password request it from you? Many illegitimate emails are sent daily asking you to update your password because of purported “security compromises” that do not exist. A simple phone call to the organization in question will answer any question that you may have regarding security compromises. Customer service centers are to be considered your ultimate resource when you receive potentially illegal or confusing emails.

Our hours of operation and telephone numbers are:

MONDAY THRU THURSDAY

8:00 AM TO 5:00 PM

FRIDAY

8:00 AM TO 6:00 PM

SATURDAY

8:00 AM TO 12 NOON

815 765-3333

POP UP Windows.

Beware of any window that “pops up” during an internet banking session. If the window asks you to access another website or to enter your password then you should beware. “RATS” or Remote Access Trojans can be installed on legitimate websites by computer hackers who want to steal your personal information. Call your financial institution’s internet banking customer service immediately to determine the legitimate operation of their website before you honor any request for your personal information.

Use the best virus protection and firewall protection that you can afford.

Virus protection and firewalls provide additional layers of protection that you need to insulate your risk exposure to viruses that can rob your computer hard drive of valuable personal information. Virus protection packages and firewalls can be purchased online or at reputable computer software stores nationwide. Remember that after you install virus protection you will still need to regularly update the software to ensure maximum protection. Most software updates are free once you pay for the annual fee for virus protection software.

Disconnect from the Internet when not in use.

Literally “unplugging” the PC and disabling your wireless router may play key elements in protecting your information when the computer is not being used. Dial up connections can be unplugged from the telephone outlet while wireless routing devices can simply be unplugged from their electrical source or “powered down” during periods when the PC is idle.

Allow your financial institution to contact you using normal channels of communication.

Make sure that your financial institution has your best possible contact telephone numbers and your current mailing address. If your financial institution wishes to contact you they will more than likely use the telephone followed by an actual paper letter sent to your official address.

Everyone makes mistakes.

It is always better to obtain guidance from your financial institution when you suspect that you have inadvertently entered your personal information on a bogus website. Do not delay in contacting your financial institution. There are many resources and solutions available to preserve your piece of mind as well as your financial well being. When in doubt-make the phone call!

SCAM ALERT!!!

The latest attempt to defraud bank customers is a combination
of Phishing and Keylogging. Here is how it works.

You receive an email appearing to be from your bank or credit
card company asking you to download security software. The email
says that this software must be installed in order to guard against
recent internet phishing attacks. The software that is installed
is actually a keylogger. Keyloggers are used to record everything
you type including account numbers and passwords.

Once this software is installed it allows these thieves to steal
your personal information. That could allow them to jeopardize
your bank account or use your credit card without your authorization.

We will NEVER send an email requesting ANY information from you.
The Bank or Credit Card Company already have what they need by
law. Be very leery of an email that looks to be from your Bank
or Credit Card company that requests you to give out any information
or download programs. Legitimate emails are usually only sent to
inform customers of any important information.

If you have any doubts, please give us a call.

BE CAREFUL - BE SAFE!!

Phishing

Internet scammers have discovered a new way to try and obtain personal
financial information: They go "phishing." Phishing or
carding, is a new scam that uses spam to deceive consumers into
disclosing their credit card numbers, bank account information,
Social Security numbers, passwords, and other sensitive information.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the emails pretend
to be from businesses the potential victims deal with - for example,
their Internet service provider (ISP), online payment service or
bank. The email request the recipients to "update" or
"validate" their billing information to keep their accounts
active, and direct them to a "look-alike" Web site of
the legitimate business, further tricking consumers into thinking
they are responding to a bona fide request. Unknowingly, consumers
submit their financial information - not to the businesses - but
the scammers, who use it to order goods and services and obtain
credit.
We will NEVER send you an email request for information or place
a Link within that E-Mail directing you to our Web site. Should
you ever need to access our Web site please type WWW.POPLARGROVESTATEBANK.COM
directly into your browser or use the Book Mark feature.

Please go to “OUR COMMUNITY”
page and look for the Links to the Federal Trade Commission
and FDIC. They have information pertaining to these threats and
how to avoid them. We also have some Quick Help Links listed on our News & Events Page.

Online Banking

We use Encryption software to communicate information and transactions
from your PC to the bank and vice versa. Encryption software scrambles
the message in such a way that it can only be decoded by the sender
and receiver.

We do not retain Passwords at anytime. The first time you sign
on to our service you are required to change the password. This
makes certain that only you can access your account information.

It is our goal to ensure your account information is only accessible
by you, that no one can intercept any information and that your
transactions remain private.

Identity Theft

Identity Theft has become an increasing problem in
the electronic age. There are some basic steps you can take to help
reduce the risk of Identity Theft.

Do Not give out personal Financial information on the phone,
by mail or over the Internet unless you initiated the contact.

Obtain your credit report from the Credit bureaus at least
once per year.

Report lost or stolen checks immediately.

Add passwords to your credit cards, debit cards and phone accounts.

Notify the local authorities of suspicious phone inquires asking
for information to “verify a statement” or “award
a prize”.

Protect personal information in your house.

Shred any important documents or solicitations before disposing
of them.

To contact the three major credit bureaus go to “OUR
COMMUNITY’ page and click on any of the links provided
there.

Identification/Chexsystems

We use the Chexsystems service to help verify the identity of any
new customers. The US Patriot Act now requires us to compare a potential
customer’s name to certain government blocked lists. If a
name is a match either on the government list or Chexsystem’s
list, an account can not be opened.

ATM/Night Deposit Security Precautions

As with all financial transactions, please exercise discretion
when using an ATM or night deposit facility. For your own safety,
be careful. The following suggestions may be helpful:

Prepare for your transactions at home (for instance, by filling
out a deposit slip) to minimize your time at the ATM or night
deposit facility.

Mark each transaction in your account record, but not while
at the ATM or night deposit facility. Always save your ATM receipts.
Don't leave them at the ATM or night deposit facility because
they may contain important account information.

Compare your records with the account statements you receive.

Don't lend your ATM card to anyone.

Remember, do not leave your card at the ATM. Do not leave any
documents at a night deposit facility.

Protect the secrecy of your Personal Identification Number (PIN).
Protect your ATM card as though it were cash. Don't tell anyone
your PIN. Don't give anyone information regarding your ATM card
or PIN over the telephone. Don't write your PIN where it can be
discovered. For example, don't keep a note of your PIN in your
wallet or purse.

Prevent others from seeing you enter your PIN by using your
body to shield their view.

If you lose your ATM card or if it is stolen, promptly notify
us. You should consult the other disclosure you have received
about electronic fund transfers for additional information about
what to do if your card is lost or stolen.

When you make a transaction, be aware of your surroundings.
Look out for suspicious activity near the ATM or night deposit
facility, particularly if it is after sunset. At night, be sure
that the facility (including the parking area and walkways) is
well lighted. Consider having someone accompany you when you use
the facility, especially after sunset. If you observe any problem,
go to another ATM or night deposit facility.

Don't accept assistance from anyone you don't know when using
an ATM or night deposit facility.

If you notice anything suspicious or if any other problem arises
after you have begun an ATM transaction, you may want to cancel
the transaction, pocket your card and leave. You might want to
consider using another ATM or coming back later.

Don't display your cash; pocket as soon as the ATM transaction
is completed and count the cash later when you are in the safety
of your own car, home or other secure surrounding.

At a drive-up facility, make sure all the car doors are locked
and all of the windows rolled up, except the driver's window.
Keep the engine running and remain alert to your surroundings.

We want the ATM and night deposit facility to be safe and convenient
for you; therefore, please tell us if you know of any problems
with a facility. For instance let us know if a light is not working
or there is any damage to a facility. Please report any suspicious
activity or crimes to both the operator of the facility and the
local law enforcement officials immediately.

NOTICE:
Poplar Grove State Bank is not responsible for and has no control over the
subject matter, content, information, or graphics of the web sites that
have links here. The portal and news features are being provided by an outside
source - Poplar Grove State Bank is not responsible for the content. Please
contact us with any concerns or comments.